Machine for washing grain.



W. ROWLANDSON.

MACHINE FOR WASHING GRAIN;

APPLICATION IILEDNOV.1B, 1911.

Patented Dec. 31, 1912.

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WILLIAM ROWLANDSON, OF LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR WASHING GRAIN.

Application filed November 18, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM ROWLAND- SON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, in the Kingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for IVashing Grain, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object a simple machine for washing grain which from eastern countries generally comes very dirty, and it consists essentially in its main outlines of an annular cistern, preferably somewhat conical, supplied with a stirring device, and in the center an elevator cut off except at the bottom from the cistern by walls, the elevator elevating the water and grain, and causing them to fly over a curb into a spout from whence the drained grain is delivered while the water passes through perforations in the spout back again into the Washer.

It is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation; and Fig. 2, a plan.

In these, A is a cast iron conical basin or cistern into which the grain to be washed is poured.

B, a cylindrical tube with a flanged bottom, and conical top fixed therein. B a separate bearing portion fixed to the cistern A in any convenient manner, such as by studs or bolts not shown. B gland for the same.

C is an Archimedean screw turned and fitted to the cylindrical tube B and revolving with the shaft or spindle D. The bottom of the spindle D runs in a terminal bot- 40 tom bearing D having preferably adjusting screws. and nuts D and check-nuts D. This shaft is driven by bevel gearing E on the shaft E which is driven by the fast and loose pulleys F are apertures around the bottom of tube B so as to allow water and grain to enter tube B and be carried up by the screw C.

G is a hopper or inverted cone shaped funnel fixed on the top of tube B by bolts B", and G are four wing blades fixed between the hopper G and the tube B so as to impede the circular action of the water caused by the revolving screw C when lifting the grain and water as hereafter described.

H is a circular flange fixed on or cast in one with the tube B. This carries a bevel Specification of Letters Patent.

' PatentedDec.31,1912.

Serial No. 661,154.

wheel II which is driven by bevel wheel H on shafts H and belt II from the driving shaft E The bevel wheel H is formed with lugs H carrying preferably at four different points at angles of 90 degrees apart brackets K to which are fastened a series of dependent bars or stirrer-s L.

I is a somewhat circular tray placed at an angle, and attached to the top of the tube B. This tray receives the overflow from the funnel G and carries it on to the delivery spout J. A portion of the tray I is perforated so as to allow the water to escape back again into the cistern A while allowingthe washed grain to be delivered by the spout J. These perforations are smaller than the diameter of a grain of wheat at the top, but larger below, so that by this conical form it is very difficult for them to be filled up.

The mode of action is as follows:The grain is thrown into the basin A at any convenient point. The revolving stirrers L, which can be of any convenient form, keep on a constant motion in the grain and the water, which latter is kept at a level of about four or five inches from the top of the basin. The machine being set in motion, the stirring has a constant tendency not merely to wash the grain, and to prevent it depositing, but to cause it to gradually descend to the orifices F through which they escape into the cylindrical tube B. Through the action of the screw the grain is forced up into the funnel G, from which it escapes over the edge into the tray I and the spout J. The funnel G can be made the full width of the cylinder B if preferred, but if so the parts G are made to project from it or from the tube B so as to stop the circular motion of the grain.

I declare that what I claim is 1. In a washer for grain and the like, the combination of a wash basin or cistern having sides sloping inwardly toward the bottom, a tube extending upwardly from the bottom of said basin, said tube being open at the top and having openings at the lower end thereof, a helical elevator mounted in the tube, means for agitating the water and grain outside the tube in the wash basin, and a sloping perforated tray located adjacent to the upper end of the tube, said tray being adapted to receive the material and water which are ejected from the tube by said elevator.

2. In a grain-washer, the combination of an inverted conical cistern; a vertically disposed tube located centrally thereof, said tube being open at its upper end and provided at its lower end with ports for the admission of grain and water; an elevator working in said. tube; means for agitating the material within the cistern; and a perforate tray adapted to receive the material discharged from the tube.

3. In a grain-washer, the combination of an inverted. conical cistern; a centrally-disposed tube open at its upper and lower ends; an elevator working in said tube; a rotary stirring device Working within the cistern about the tube; and means for separating the grain from the water as the same are discharged from the tube, the water passing back into the cistern.

4. In a grain washer, the combination of a wash cistern, a tube centrally disposed therein, said tube being open at its upper and lower ends, an elevating device in said tube, a horizontal flange extending outwardly from the tube in its upper end, a gear ring rotatably mounted onthe flange, means for driving said ring, stirrers in the cistern outside said tube supported by said ring, and extending downwardly into the cistern.

5. In a grainwasher, the combination of a cistern, a tube mounted therein, said tube being open at its ends; a screw elevator working in said tube; and means located adjacent the upper discharge end of the tube to impede the vortical movement of the water and the material carried thereby pro duced by the screw action.

6. In a grain-washer, the combination of an inverted conical cistern; a vertical centrally-disposed tube mounted therein, said tube being open at its upper and lower ends; a screw elevator working in said tube; a flange extending outwardly from the tube adjacent its upper end; a gear-ring rotatably mounted on said flange; a series of brackets carried by said ring; stirrers carried by said brackets; a funnel-shaped member mounted in the upper end of the tube; blades carried by the funneleshaped member at its lower end to impede the'vortical action of the water and material set up by the elevator; a screen surrounding said funnelshaped member; and a trough leading from the screen.

7. In a grain washing apparatus, the combination of a circular cistern, means for rotarily stirring the contents of that cistern, a vertical Archimedean elevator in the center of the stirring device stopping short near the top, means for stopping the rotary motion of the material near the top, and means for allowing the grain and water to escape at the top, with means for conveying the grain away and of returning the water to the cistern.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto si 'ned my name this 9th day of November 1911, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

lVlLLIAM ROWLANDSON.

Witnesses NM. P. THOMPSON, H. I. SHORTRIDGE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing" the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

